Here is what you need to know before the Lakers host the Chicago Bulls.
1)
The Lakers could be without their leading scorer, D’Angelo Russell, who missed Friday’s game against San Antonio with a sore left knee. According to head coach Luke Walton, Russell (16.8 ppg) has been playing through the ailment lately and is considered questionable against the Bulls.
2)
With Russell sidelined against the Spurs, several other Lakers stepped up. Lou Williams (24), Nick Young (22) and Jordan Clarkson (20) combined for 66 points, but San Antonio’s offense was even hotter, as it came away with a 116-107 win.
3)
The Bulls will be playing at Staples Center for the second time in as many days. Chicago took a four-game winning streak into Saturday’s matchup with the Clippers, but was turned back, 102-95. Now, it will look to rebound on the second day of a back-to-back against the Lakers.
4)
The Bulls’ loss had little to do with Dwyane Wade, who was excellent in dropping 28 points with five 3-pointers. The 12-time All-Star and Chicago native has looked fresh while beginning his tenure in his hometown, scoring double figures in 12 of 13 games thus far.
5)
While Wade is certainly a future Hall of Famer, the Bulls also boast a player currently in his prime: Jimmy Butler. Having won gold with the United States National Team at the Rio Olympics this summer, Butler has carried that momentum into the NBA season, averaging 24.0 points with at least 16 in every game this year.
6)
Along with Wade, the Bulls also imported Rajon Rondo over the offseason. An adversary of the Lakers in the 2008 and 2010 NBA Finals, he is playing with his third team since ending his Boston days in 2014. With Sacramento last year, have averaged 11.7 assists, which were the most by any player since John Stockton handed out 12.3 per night in 1994-95.
7)
The unsung member of Chicago’s starting lineup might be Robin Lopez, who is averaging a double-double in his last four games with 10.8 points and 10.5 rebounds. The North Hollywood native is also extremely active on the defensive end, leading the league in shots contested (15.2).
8)
The Bulls have jumped out to an 8-5 start to the season, largely thanks to their proficiency on the glass and at the foul line. Chicago has compiled the NBA’s best differential in made free throws (+7.3) and ranks second in rebounding differential (+6.3).
9)
Several Lakers have history in Chicago, including Luol Deng, who played there from 2004-14 and made two All-Star teams along the way. Like Deng, Metta World Peace began his career as a Bull, ranking second in the NBA in steals in 2001-02. Finally, Jose Calderon was briefly with Chicago during the past offseason, but was traded to the Lakers shortly after being acquired.
10)
Both teams saw franchise-altering figures enter the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this summer. Three-time NBA Finals MVP Shaquille O’Neal was enshrined with the class of 2016, as was Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who oversaw the team’s run of six championships in the 1990s.
Tip-off: 6:30 p.m. PT
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